A review of the Netflix documentary Pandemic, which explores the looming threat of global pandemics through the eyes of medical professionals and researchers.
In this century, we’ve seen the rise of terms and viruses that have dramatically changed our daily lives: H1N1, H3N2, SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19. These viral diseases, often originating from livestock or wildlife, can infect humans and are ongoing threats to populations around the globe. When these pathogens spread uncontrollably, they can lead to epidemics, and in the most severe cases, a global pandemic.
Such a critical topic naturally garners attention from the audiovisual world. While Hollywood has explored this narrative in countless films, documentaries tend to dive deeper into the potential reality of such scenarios.
With impeccable timing, Netflix released a documentary series in January of this year that aimed to explore these very possibilities.
Pandemic: A Timely Insight
The series Pandemic was produced just months before the outbreak of coronavirus, featuring various healthcare professionals, scientists, and researchers. It examines the possible routes through which a pandemic could strike humanity.
The six-episode series opens by recalling the Spanish flu, the last global pandemic. From there, it takes three key directions: following the frontline medical professionals battling diseases, the scientists and researchers identifying new viruses, and the global effort to educate the public about combating these pathogens.
The Daily Struggles of Frontline Doctors
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the series is its focus on medical professionals. Whether they are working in rural areas or large hospitals in places like India, Egypt, Vietnam, or New York, the documentary delves into their daily challenges, infrastructure limitations, techniques, and the many conditions under which they labor. The series also offers an intimate glimpse into their personal lives, covering family, religious beliefs, and everyday struggles.
The Virus Hunters
American scientist Dennis Carroll, a renowned “virus hunter,” takes center stage as he shows the locations and research techniques used to detect new viruses that could eventually infect people. The series also introduces Jacob Glanville and Sarah Yves, two researchers from San Francisco who are working on developing a universal flu vaccine with funding from the Bill Gates Foundation.
Resistance to Vaccination and Disease Prevention
An important part of the documentary highlights the challenges faced by anti-vaccination groups in the United States, who oppose vaccinating their children due to fears of mental health problems. Meanwhile, in Congo, doctors face threats from militias as they combat the Ebola virus in a hostile environment.
Throughout the documentary, the camera work maintains a close, almost personal, connection with the characters, offering an immersive and minimal-interference style. It stitches together the many different stories spread across each theme.
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Raul de Góes - cinematographer and advertising professional
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